Type-delivery machine.



K. E. CHOATE & J. T. CARROLL.

TYPE DELIVERY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1914.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co.. WASH ma UNITED @TATE ATENT @FFTCE.

KING E. CHOATE AND JOHN T. CARROLL, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS; SAID CARROLL ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO J. W. WILKERSON, OF HOUSTON,

TEXAS.

TYPE-DELIVERY MACHINE.

Application filed July 31, 1914.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, IQING E. CIIOATE and J OHN T. CARROLL, citizens of the United btates, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and titate of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Delivery Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a type delivery machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described in which the different characters of type employed in printing are arranged in separate containers, similar type being arranged in the same containers, and embodies a mechanism also whereby the type, as selected by the compositor may be readily accessible. In other words, the machine herein described contains the type to be set, so that each character of type is kept separate from different characters, and easily delivered to the compositor to be composed in the stick.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a partial front view of the machine illustrating the invention. Fig. 2 is a partial end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a partial plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional end view thereof. Figs. 0 and 6 show, respectively, a fragmentary side elevation and plan view of the type container. Fig. 7 shows a fragmentary plan view of the inner side of the extractor plate. Figs. 8 and 9 show, respectively, a vertical sectional view and a front elevation of the type extractor, and Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a container attached to a type casting machine.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 refers to one of the banks of the keyboard forming a part of the framework. The framework, it may be explained, is somewhat similar in construction and shape to that of the ordinary typewriter, but in practice may be larger or Specification of Letters Patent.

pivoted to the extractor 5 projects.

Patented Dec. let, 1915..

Serial No. 854,257.

smaller, and will have a number of banks in the keyboard as 1, but as they will all be similar in construction and operation, a description of one only will sufficiently illus trate the construction and use of the device. 7 The bank 1 has a plurality of slots as 2 in its upper side extending entirely through the same, said slots being spaced a suitable distance'apart and receiving the forward ends of the type containers 3. These containers are tubes, rectangular in cross section, and their width and depth correspond in dimensions respectively to the size of the type i, so that said type may be arranged side by side in rows therein, as illustrated in F igs. 4: and 5, and the said containers may be made of any length found practical. The bank inclines forwardly and the front ends of the containers 3 are inserted in the slots-2 thereof at right angles, so that said tubes or containers 3 decline forwardly so that the type 4 will feed by gravity to the respective extractors 5. Secured upon the front side of the bank is the extractor plate 6, which is lined on the inner side with a thin metal lining formed. in vertical sections, as 7, and this plate has deep grooves 8 in the inner side extending from top to bottom and in alinement with the respective slots 2. These grooves receive the extractors 5, which have a close fit therein, and the'upper ends of said extractors project above their respective banks and are tapered so as to be easily grasped between the thumb and fingers of compositor as will be hereinafter explained. Each extractor plate 6, is retained against lateral displacement by its corresponding lining 7, which is secured to the inner side of the bank 1, over the corresponding groove 8, and each lining 7 has a vertical slot 9 through which the dog 10 Each extractor 5 has a transverse slot 11 extending entirely therethrough, and the dog 10 is pivoted at its front end in said slot and projects rearwardly through its correspond ing slot 9 and into a narrow downward extension 12 of the slot 2. Each extractor 5 is movable vertically in its groove 8 but its vertical movement up or down is limited by a stud 13, which is secured to said extractor and projects through the vertical slot 14 in the plate 6. The stud engages against the upper and lower ends, respectively, of its slot 14, and thus limits the range of movement of the corresponding extractor 5.

As is well known the type are formed in a molding machine of metal which is fusible at a comparatively low temperature, and the type as formed will be delivered from the machine into the containers 3, as illustrated by Fig. 10, all of which type delivered to any container being similar. For ordinary printing a number of characters are employed, so that in order to be practical the machine herein described must be constructed to accommodate or embody a requisite number of tubes or type containers 3, each carrying characters different from all the others (except in cases hereinafter mentioned). As before explained the forward ends of these tubes are inserted into the respective slots2, but a sutlicient space is left between the front'ends thereof and the plate 6 to permit the vertical movement of the extractors 5 without the dogs 10 engaging against the tube ends.

As before stated, the type are moved downwardly in their respective tubes by gravity, the foremost type in any particular tube resting against the lining 7 of the plate 6. The corresponding extractor 5 is then grasped by the compositor and pulled upwardly until its stud 13 engages against the upper end of its slot 14. As the extractor moves upwardly, the inner end of its dog 10 engages under the foremost type 4 and elevates it to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and l. Secured to the bank 1 above each of the slots 2 are the guards 15, formed of rubber or some other flexible material, each guard having a notch 16 in the front edge thereof, alined above its corresponding slot 2. This notch has the shape of a cross section of the type and when said type is elevated its lower end rests in said notch and is held in vertical position thereby. lVhen the dog 10 has reached the limit of its upward movement the next succeeding type moves into position against the lining 7 underneath the type which has just been elevated, and forms a support therefor. The extractor 5 is then released andof its own weight .falls to its lower position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4;. The inner end of the dog 10 is beveled upwardly and the slot 11 in which the said dog is pivoted is of sufiicient vertical width to permit considerable vertical play of said inner end of the dog, and as the extractor descends the inner end of the dog, by reason of its contact with the type, recedes into the slot 11 until it has passed below the type and then drops into horizontal position into the extension 12 of the slot 2 underneath the type. The compositor then grasps the extractor and elevated type, and again lifts the same, as

before indicated, and in so doing extracts the elevated type from the guard 15, and another type is lifted into position. This process is repeated as the type are set until the tube 3 is emptied, and when so emptied, it may be replaced by another loaded tube.

To prevent the type from falling out of the lower end of the tube as it is beiir placed in position, a pin as 17 is inserted through a corresponding orifice in the upper side of said tube at its front end, which projects down in front of the type. This pin passes along the slot 18 in the guard 15 until the tube is in its proper place and then said pin is removed, allowing the lower type to fall against the lining 7 of the plate 8, and in the path of the dog 10, as explained.

When type are set by the method now in most common use, much time is consumed by the compositor in locating and picking out the proper characters, inasmuch as the containers and type therein are not arranged with any regularity. In this device thedifferent characters of type are arranged with regularity, similar characters being kept to themselves, and by practice the operator can instantly locate and obtain the desired type reflexively and with the comparative rapidity of the operation of the ordinary typewriter.

lVhile we have shown only one form of our invention, it is obvious to those skilled in the art of printing that the mechanical structure thereof may be changed without departing from the principle of the invention, and we hereby reserve the right to make such mechanical changes as will not depart from the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is 1. A device of the character described including a tubular type container, an extractor in cooperation therewith for elevating type singly therefrom, a means, fixed in position relative to the container engaging with each type, when elevated, and securing it in its elevated position, and a type engaging mechanism carried by the extractor and engaging with the type to be removed, and elevating them into engagement with said type engaging means.

2. A device of the character described 'including a tubular type container, an extractor cooperating therewith, a type en aging mechanism carried by the extractor and engaging with and elevating the type from the container, said extractor being lowered by gravity, but manually elevated, and means fixed relative to the container, for receiving the type successively, as elevated and holding the same in an elevated posi tion, when released by the extractor.

3. A device of the character described including a frame work, a plurality of tubular removable type containers carried thereby,

and fixed in position while in use, an extractor cooperating with each container and being freely slidable relative thereto, a type engaging means carried by each extractor and engaging with and elevating the type from the corresponding container, and means fixed relative to the container engaging with said type when elevated and holding same in an elevated position.

i. A device of the character described including a frame work, a tubular removable type container carried thereby, and fixed in position relative to the frame work when the device is in operation, an extractor slidably mounted relative to said container, a type engaging means carried by the extractor and engaging with and elevating the type singly from said container, and means fixed relative to the container engaging with each type when elevated and securing it in its elevated position.

till

5. In a device of the character described including a type feeding mechanism,in combination with a tubular type container, into which the type is fed from said mechanism, an extractor operating with said container, a type engaging means carried by the extractor and engaging with and elevating the type from the container, said extractor being lowered by gravity, but manually elevated, and means fixed relative to the container for receiving the type successively, as elevated and holding the same in elevated position when released by the extractor.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

KING E. CHOATE. JOHN T. CARROLL. Witnesses:

E. L. CATHEY, LOUISE CATHEY.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. C." 

